by Molly Harper, Stephanie Haefner, Liora Blake, Gabra Zackman, Andrea Laurence, Colette Auclair
A nurse appeared, thankfully, and broke the tension. “Hello everyone! Let’s see if we’re ready to have a baby!” She lifted Riley’s sheet, presumably no less than fifteen-hundred-thread count, and stuck her hand in.
“Look at her,” Mia’s father said, stepping to her and lowering his voice. “She looks so peaceful. So ready to be a mother again. Wouldn’t it be nice if her husband could spend a few weeks with her? And after that, be able to come home by dinnertime every night?”
Come on. This nagging was supposed to be over. “Yeah, it would be nice. You’re the boss. You can make that happen.”
“I can’t be without my right-hand man for weeks. There’s just too much work. But if I had another set of hands . . .”
“I don’t want to do it. Can’t you hire someone who actually wants to be your prodigy?”
“You know I don’t trust outsiders in management positions. The only reason Nico got where he is is because he’s my son-in-law. Otherwise, he’d still be in detailing.”
“Well, maybe you need to start trusting people who aren’t family.”
“I didn’t get where I am by putting faith in people I don’t know. That’s a sure way for failure. And besides, how am I supposed to retire if I don’t have anyone to pass my legacy on to?”
“Give it to Riley.”
“She’s a mother. Her place is at home with her kids.”
This was getting better and better. “So now women can’t have kids and a career?”
“Your mother never worked. It was best for you girls.”
Mia could not believe the idiotic and sexist statements coming out of her father’s mouth. And of course it wasn’t over.
“What’s really keeping you at that rinky-dink shop?” he asked. “I’m sure I can pay you what the entire place nets in a year.”
“I know this is a foreign concept to you, but it’s not about the money. I love it and I love Bryn. We built it together.”
“I can find a job for her, too. We always need pretty faces to man the front desk. Besides, no one wants to buy that tacky underwear you sell. And the new . . . stuff? That will just sink the whole place. Best to get out now before you rack up even more debt.”
Mia needed to calm herself before she spoke again. This was not the place. “Nothing you say or do will change my mind.”
He turned to her, eyes narrowing like they had the one time she’d seen him play cards. “I guess we’ll just have to see about that.”
“Tony, come sit with me,” Mia’s mother pleaded and wrapped her arm around his. She also knew what that look in his eyes meant.
Mia had never been scared of her father, but in that moment, hearing the tone in his voice, she was. Nothing pissed him off more than someone refusing to do as he said.
He let his wife lead him to an overstuffed leather couch and Mia had never been so relieved to have distance between her and her father, even if it was just across a room.
“All righty!” the nurse’s cheery voice filled the room. “She’s fully dilated and the baby is crowning. It’s time to push!”
Mia headed for the waiting room where she plopped into a hard, cold chair to wait for Baby Nico.
“YOU CAN come back in now.” Mia’s father poked his head around the corner of the stale waiting room.
Her head snapped and she blinked her eyes a few times. “Thanks.”
The boom of his voice had woken her from a nap. Mia looked at her watch. Geez. That was a quick two hours. For her, anyway; probably not for everyone else. She stood and stretched. Plastic waiting room chairs were not a good place for a nap.
She walked toward the birthing room, welcomed by the wails of a newborn.
“Give him back to me, Ma. He probably wants to eat.” Riley took the squealing baby and without a second of hesitation pulled down her hospital gown and whipped out her breast. He took right to it. “He’s a boob man, just like his daddy.”
There were all kinds of things wrong with that statement, but Mia pushed them from her mind. She stepped toward the bed. “Congratulations, Mama. How are you?”
“Good. He wouldn’t come out, though. Got those wide football player shoulders. I pushed forever and she had to give me an episiotomy.”
“Do I want to know what that is?”
“The doctor gave me a little snip in the vagina.”
“Yeah. I did not want to know that. But Baby Nico is okay?”
“Yep. Healthy as can be.” She looked down. “He’s really going to town here. I’m starving, too. Who wants to get me something to eat?”
“I’ll go, sweetheart,” their father said, leaning down to kiss Riley’s forehead.
“I could use a little something, too,” Mom chimed. “Mia, you coming?”
“No. I’m good.”
Their parents left and Mia pulled a chair over to the bed. “So how does Nico feel about having a junior? Is he excited to have his boy?”
“Yeah. He’s already planning on taking him to his first baseball game.”
Mia looked around the quiet room. “Where is he, anyway?”
“He had to return a call. One of the assistant managers at the dealership. His phone rang right while I was pushing. The baby’s head was hanging out of my hoo-hah. But when you have as many responsibilities as he does, you’re never off the clock.”
“Oh. That stinks.”
“Yeah, it does. Instead of him being here and sharing these first precious moments of his son’s life, he’s off dealing with work.” Riley looked down at the baby. He’d apparently fallen asleep, so she tucked her breast back in. “If there had been someone else to take the call, someone who was just snoozing in the waiting room, he could be here right now.”
Was Riley seriously putting a guilt trip on her? “I’m sorry he had to leave. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
“I hope so. But what am I gonna do when I go home? How will I handle two kids? Gianna’s still in diapers and needs constant attention. Nursing the baby is almost a full-time job. How am I gonna do it all on my own?”
Um, shoulda thought about that before getting pregnant again so soon. “I can help. I’ll come over whenever I can.”
“It’s not the same. My kids need their father.”
“Riley, what do you want me to say?”
“Tell me you’ll take Daddy’s job offer. It would make my life so much easier.”
“I can’t. And I don’t want to.”
Tears welled in Riley’s eyes. “You can be so selfish sometimes.”
“I’m not selfish. I have a career, a shop I helped build, and I need to do everything I can to save it. Please try and understand.”
“I do understand. You’re a clueless single woman who can’t possibly know what it’s like to be a mother.”
“I may not have a child of my own, but I’m not clueless. I’ve watched Bryn struggle for the last two years. Try being a mother whose husband died.”
“Some days I do feel like my husband has died and left me.”
Mia had done all she could to stay calm, but her sister had crossed a line. “Don’t you dare compare Nico being at work to what Bryn went through.”
“Why is everything always about Bryn? I bet if she were asking you to take the job, you’d jump right on it. ’Cause that’s what this whole thing is really about. You won’t leave her to run the shop alone. You’re choosing your friend over your flesh and blood. You’ve always done that and I’ve hated you for it.”
Rage bubbled from Mia’s pores. How dare she? Mia wanted to spew her anger at Riley. Tell her how mean and selfish she was being. How bratty. To be so crass as to compare her life to Bryn’s? Mia truly wanted to scream at her little sister, put her in her place, make her understand that her life in no way compared to the devastation Bryn had experienced.
But she couldn’t scream at a woman who’d just gone through labor and delivery. Instead she stood and walked out of the room. It wasn’t until she reached her car that she let tears flood her eye
s.
CHAPTER Twelve
Work was a good way to make Mia forget about the horrible things her sister had said. They’d hired a photographer to take promotional photos of the guys in the shop and also with a few different backgrounds. It was supposed to be Bryn’s job to direct the photo shoot, but a bout of stomach flu had hit her house. With two puking kids and her stomach starting to feel a little queasy, she’d decided to hole up inside her house until all germs were gone.
So, even though it was supposed to be Mia’s day off, she really didn’t mind. A busy mind didn’t obsess over every word she’d said to Riley the day before and wonder if any of them had been out of line.
And currently, her still-pissed-off brain told her no. All words had been justified.
Oliver arrived first and was immediately taken into hair and makeup. They’d hired a friend, one who worked cheaply, to make sure the guys looked droolworthy for the shoot. Logan showed up looking great, fresh from a haircut.
“Nice hair. Now go to the makeup station.”
The photographer, another friend, came over to Mia. “Bryn and I already talked about the shots. Are we still going with what we planned?”
“Yes. Whatever you guys came up with, we’ll stick with it.”
“Good.”
The guys came out, wearing only jeans. Wow. Not even an underwear band. The waist of the jeans hung just right on Oliver, low enough to give a little peek of what was in there. The photographer snapped away. Logan was a natural, posing and smiling, a few serious expressions, then seductive ones. Oliver looked a little shell-shocked.
“What’s wrong with this guy?” the photographer whispered to Mia.
“He’s not a professional model, so he’s new to this.”
“That explains it. But with that face and abs, who gives a shit if he has zero experience?”
Mia just smiled. It wasn’t really his face that had gotten him the job.
“Okay, next scene,” the photographer yelled.
Logan depantsed, with nothing underneath.
“What are you doing?”
“They told me the second shots would be naked shots.”
Mia turned to the photographer. “Did Bryn approve this?”
“She was very adamant about it, actually.”
“Okay then. Pants off.” She looked up and Oliver caught her gaze, staring into her eyes as he unbuttoned and edged his jeans down.
“Oh. My. God.” The photographer fanned herself. “He so totally wants you.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem. He doesn’t get that bosses and employees can’t date.”
No dating. No sex. Especially the sex. No hot, mind-blowing sex allowed.
“If I had an employee who looked like that, the rules would be out the window.”
That didn’t work in her world. She needed definitive boundaries. Especially with a man who could potentially make her forget everything important in her life.
“Okay guys,” the photographer yelled and gave directions for poses. For the final naked shot, the guys covered their penises with their hands. Very sexy and provocative. She tipped the camera screen to Mia, Oliver’s body looking perfect. “How can you not wanna take that home?”
It wasn’t a matter of not wanting to.
The guys slipped into tiny hot pink briefs for the last few shots. Oliver’s said Classy across the butt, and Logan’s Sassy. They posed individually and then a few shots together. She could hear them mumbling to each other between camera clicks.
Oh geez. What were they doing now?
“We’re done!” called the photographer.
“Trust me, I don’t want any part of your ridiculous reality show,” Oliver said.
“You’re just jealous. When it helps me win, you’ll be crying as you hand over my thousand bucks.”
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Mia interrupted. “You wagered a thousand dollars on this?”
Oliver shook his head. “Whoever sells the most in the first month owes the other.”
“You guys are unbelievable. As your boss, I almost want to nix this idea, but if it helps you promote yourselves better and sell more toys, I’ll support it.”
“Game on, bro!” Logan laughed and grabbed his jeans, heading in back to dress.
Mia turned to Oliver. “You can get dressed now.”
“You didn’t call last night. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Baby Nico was born healthy and happy.”
“Good.” He reached his hand toward her waist and she stepped back. “What’s wrong?”
“You can’t do that.”
A gleaming smile stretched across his face. “Okay. I get it. No PDA at work. How about we reschedule our dinner for tonight?”
“I can’t.”
“There shouldn’t be another baby being born, right?”
“No. I just can’t. We can’t. This has to stop.”
“Why?”
“I told you. I’m your boss, you’re my employee. It’s not right. Plus, I have a lot going on right now and I need to focus on the shop. I can’t get caught up in some fling. And even if I could, I don’t want to.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. We’re good together.”
“It doesn’t matter. This is my decision and I need you to respect it.”
“Fine. Whatever you say, boss.” He walked away, leaving her to watch his fine muscled behind.
“God, you are so lucky. I need a man like that.” The photographer was back at Mia’s side. “After these toys come in, I am so buying an Oliver. Maybe two, a vibrating and a nonvibrating. I’ll have a nice photo in my head to imagine while I’m using him.” She laughed and walked away.
A weird feeling flourished in Mia’s gut. Her heartbeat quickened and she had a sudden urge to walk up to the woman and yank her hair out. Jealousy? No. Mia Montanari didn’t get jealous. But the thought of this woman using Oliver’s replica to pleasure herself, imagining his face as she did it, made her feel like vomiting.
She had to get over this feeling, and quick.
FUCK! OLIVER was using the expletive a bit more than normal lately. Mia and her No Dating the Employees policy. It was a stupid excuse she was using. Probably to punish him for the lies. He’d apologized and thought they’d moved on, especially after the most recent bathroom scene. But no, more punishment.
Maybe he deserved it. There was still so much about his life that she didn’t know, and he was a jackass for keeping it hidden. Holy hell if she ever found out. If he thought life was complicated before meeting Mia, it sure as shit hadn’t lessened. He needed to fix it all, and fast. Somehow he’d find a way to make everyone happy. But in the meantime, he was stuck.
Oliver walked into the condo, slamming the door, keys crashing onto the foyer table. He threw his coat on the floor, kicked his shoes into the corner.
“Oh, Ollie, you’re home.” Alexiana came into the living room, just a towel wrapped around her, face flushed.
“What’s with the towel?” It had been a long time since he’d seen her sans makeup, let alone naked.
“I just finished my yoga. I was about to get in the shower.”
“Okay.” He flipped through the mail.
“Wanna join me?”
He looked to her, brow furrowed. They hadn’t had sex in months, and the last time, when she’d supposedly gotten pregnant, had been after a night of drinking with some childhood friends who’d come home for a visit. Alexiana wasn’t a fan of sex. Even when they had it, it was plain missionary—no funny business. Well, except for that drunken night. With her inhibitions down, they’d done a lot of fun stuff. If only she’d let her guard down more, maybe they could have stood a minuscule chance.
No, that was a lie. Because somehow, he still would have met Mia and he’d have known right away that she was meant for him. He knew that more than anything else in his life right now. He just needed to make her believe it, too.
“No. I’m gonna go make a sandwich.”
“Oh. Um .
. . okay then.” She backed away. Why was she being so weird?
The shower started and Oliver headed toward the kitchen. Being a model made him hungry. Which seemed like an ironic statement if he’d ever heard one. As he rummaged through the refrigerator, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
He turned and found a young guy, white linen pants and a tank top, heading toward the door. “Hey. Who are you?”
He stopped and faced him. “I’m Chris. Alexiana’s yoga instructor.”
“You do house calls?”
“Yeah. One-on-one sessions in the privacy of your own home.”
“Oh. Okay. Um, thanks. Did she pay you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Great. Have a nice day.” Oliver opened the door for him.
He headed to the bathroom and walked in, room filled with steam. “You do yoga at home? I thought you went to some fancy studio.”
“Why are you in here? Don’t you know it’s completely rude to barge in on someone when they’re in the shower?”
Two minutes ago she’d invited him in the shower with her, and now he couldn’t even be in the room with her? “We’re engaged. That rule doesn’t apply. So why was he here?”
“I switched to private sessions. You know how I am. I can’t be seen in public all sweaty after a yoga class. Eww, gross. Anyway, I mailed the wedding invitations today. Isn’t that exciting?”
“No. Why did you mail them already?” Holy shit. He was supposed to have this taken care of, their relationship ended, before she mailed them. He thought for sure he’d still have time.
“Because we need to know how many people are coming. I have to give a head count two weeks before the wedding.”
“Then why mail them over two months early?”
“You know how people are. It takes them forever to mail back the responses.”
Fuck. This made everything harder. Everyone would know about the wedding, and the eventual cancellation. So much for saving his mother some embarrassment and stress.
CHAPTER Thirteen
I’ve got the pictures,” Mia said as she came into the shop. It had been almost a week since the photo shoot. She’d been waiting for the disc from the photographer, but also for Bryn to get over her virus.